In tonight’s game against the Tampa Bay Rays, Boston Red Sox slugger David Ortiz hit his 500th home run for his career. He’s the 27th player to hit 500 home runs in MLB history. After a rough start, Ortiz is turning in a fine season for the Red Sox, entering the night with 32 home runs, 91 RBI and a .271 batting average. While the average is lower than usual, the walk rate and trademark power have been in full force, with his .899 OPS just a bit off his .924 career mark.
Ortiz has spent the last 13 years in Boston after coming over from the Minnesota Twins. Of his homers, 58 came while he was on the Twins roster, while the other 442 home runs came in a Red Sox uniform. He is the fourth player to hit his 500th home run as a member of the Red Sox, joining Ted Williams, Jimmie Foxx and former teammate Manny Ramirez. He has hit at least 30 home runs in nine of his 13 seasons with the Sox.
While the 500 regular season home runs have been spectacular, he is probably most remembered for his clutch homers and big hits in the postseason. Ortiz was a key cog in the 2004 World Series team that came back against the rival New York Yankees in the ALCS, down three games to none. That team “reversed the curse” in Boston, becoming the first Red Sox team to win the World Series in 86 years. He’s also helped the team to win two more championships in 2007 and 2013.
The team is closing in on its second straight losing season after winning that 2013 championship, but Ortiz has been one of the bright spots on a troubled roster. The 39-year-old slugger has been planning to return next year, the second in his three year extension.
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